27 pax posted at Pantheon for a session advertised to include pain and rain combining to drain your brain.  Well, the rain did not post (a welcome absence for many I assume).  But the pain came in waves and the fog (of both weather and mental varieties) presented its own challenges…together with muggy 60s temps, the cocktail certainly left the pax stumbling home afterward.

The Thang

Warm up run around visitor parking lot to side of school

COP — Mtn climbers, IWs, Peter Parkers, SSHs, CDDs, Windmills

Run to “amphitheater” (Shakespeare would be sorely disappointed, just saying)

Bear crawl to top level, bear crawl down
(Rinse and repeat numerous times – 7, 8, 9? Who knows)

Sprint to top, jog down
(Rinse and repeat many times – 5, 6, 7?)
Throw in another bear crawl, then another sprint

(After leaving the groundskeeper plenty of repair work) run to far side of school to porch with concrete loop trail nearby and partner up

Partner 1: Balls to the wall
Partner 2: Sprint 1 lap around path
Flapjack
(Rinse & repeat for total of 3 cycles)

Miscellaneous plank series

Partner 1: Donkey kicks
Partner 2: Sprint 1 lap
Flapjack

Miscellaneous plank series

Partner 1: People’s chair
Partner 2: Sprint 1 lap opposite direction
Flap jack
(Rinse and repeat for total of 3 cycles)

Run home

COT

NMM

No burpees? No merkins?  Did this qualify as an F3 workout?  Well, judging from the surly mumble chatter and sweat, it seemed to have plenty of suck.

Great work by everyone today!  Posting was a feat in itself — first day of no school means no other reasons to rise and shine early.  Plus, Cantore certainly provided plenty of incentive to push the #smartsack button today.  But as soon as YHC pulled into the lot (a bit on the late side admittedly), it was quite clear that this crowd was ready to rumble.

Not sure what kind of performances take place at the TCES amphitheater, but I expect the pax whose kids attend will let out a groan the next time their child talks about an outing to that spot.

As we close out 2015 and the theme of Purpose for the month of December, the message today focused on walking your own path of Purpose.  For those new to the 3rd F or Purpose in general, one key is not to over complicate the picture and to avoid the sense that you have to have it all figured out.  As one who has slogged down the Purpose path for 30+ years, I frequently find myself lost in the fog of uncertainty and wrestling with endless mumble chatter aimed to confused and distract me.  A clear picture of the mission, the end game, the master plan?  That is not me…at least not today.  My comfort comes through the realization that all I have to do is take one step forward, in the direction that seems most consistent with my core values.  What I need to know will be revealed in time…all I need to do is keep taking one step at a time.  Christmas season is a perfect reminder of this.  Joseph and Mary took exactly this approach.  When the angels showed up, they said “Yes” and then they took a step.  They did not and could not have known the whole story at the beginning or at any point along the way.  Imagine what that must have been like for them.  And then follow their lead, one step at a time.

Prayers for STH and his mother, injured pax and those struggling through marital and family challenges.

Thanks to Zima for his leadership at Pantheon and to Cable Guy for the opportunity to stand in for him while he is on IR.

Merry Christmas, gents!